Celebrating Veterans Day with Bill Muir

We had the pleasure of speaking with Invoice Muir about his work within the navy and as a Registered Nurse, meals entry, his e-book, and Veterans Day. We hope you get pleasure from this interview.

Thanks in your service. We’re grateful for the chance to interview you. Please inform us about your self and your background. Why did you determine to hitch the navy, and when did you enlist?

Thanks very a lot! Hello, everybody. I’m Invoice Muir, aka SGT VEGAN. I’m a fight veteran, RN, and 32-year vegan. I joined the U.S. Military after 9/11 to serve my nation in its time of want. I had been residing in Japan for about eight years on the time the assault occurred, and, as an expat, it affected me very deeply. I joined the navy as a result of I assumed I’d have the ability to make a distinction and assist save lives, each American and Afghan, if I joined throughout warfare.

What department of the navy have been you in? What was your job? The place did you serve?

I used to be a U.S. Military Paratrooper and served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade as a fight medic. I did a tour in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006.

What was your expertise like consuming a plant-based weight loss program whereas serving? Did you expertise explicit challenges with meals entry? In that case, how did you overcome them?

Being vegan within the navy actually relies on the place you’re and what you’re doing. Primary coaching was utterly terrible––not as a result of coaching was arduous, however as a result of I used to be ravenous on a regular basis. After bootcamp, issues received higher and I put the burden again on. Being stationed in Italy with the 173rd was wonderful! I really received form of fats regardless of all of the operating I used to be doing, as a result of I used to be consuming vegan pasta, vegan pizza, and vegan gelato day by day. After I deployed, I used to be very frightened I’d return to hunger mode, however, fortunately, I discovered an internet site referred to as anysoldier.com that sends deployed service folks what they want. I’ve heard circumstances for folks on plant-based diets have gotten higher, however till there are designated vegan MRES (discipline rations) and plant-based choices in all navy cafeterias, will probably be troublesome to be plant-based within the navy.

Why was it necessary to you to stay plant-based throughout your navy profession?

To me, being vegan meant residing my ethics. I feel remaining true to one thing I consider in whereas within the navy, particularly whereas in a warzone, was additionally about my try to carry on to my identification.

How did your time within the navy form who you’re in the present day? Is there something specifically about your service that you simply wish to share?

Irrespective of who you’re, being within the navy will change you nearly all the way down to a mobile degree. I do know that’s a well-liked trope in each film and TV present that includes the navy, however someway I wasn’t anticipating that would come with me as properly.

After your navy service, you earned a certificates in Vegan Culinary Arts from Atlantic Union Faculty. In your opinion, how can training about getting ready entire plant meals be a path ahead for folks to realize higher well being?

It may be enormous, however folks should need to change. A overwhelming majority of my sufferers have checked out and given up on making an attempt to be wholesome. I’m simply making an attempt to do the perfect I can to maintain them from falling or dying on my shift. There’s nonetheless loads of anti-vegan propaganda in the US, and, sadly, loads of veterans nonetheless consider that someway consuming useless animals makes you extra masculine.

After you transitioned out of the navy, you grew to become a Registered Nurse. What has your expertise been like working within the medical discipline and what space of nursing is your specialty?

Working for Veterans Affairs (VA) as an RN has been each a blessing and a curse. On one hand, I really feel fortunate to have the ability to assist my fellow veterans of their time of want, in a lot the identical approach as I joined the navy in a time of warfare. Alternatively, working with sick and dying folks takes its toll on you each bodily and mentally. All in all, I really feel fortunate to have a job doing one thing that issues, however typically I want I had chosen a neater occupation.

Do you continue to work for a VA hospital? Have you ever seen circumstances that might be preventable with wholesome life-style interventions, like entire meals, plant-based consuming?

I work on a VA Medical/Surgical ground that has coronary heart displays. The overwhelming majority of cardiac points are lifestyle-related, which means the sufferers’ hearts aren’t working the way in which they need to due to unhealthy diets, smoking, consuming, or medication. Whereas we are able to’t dwell endlessly, we are able to dwell higher, longer, if we simply make easy life-style changes. The highest three? Go vegan, train every day, and don’t smoke.

Please inform us about your e-book Vegan Robust. What impressed you to write down it?

After I went to culinary faculty, I deliberate to open a restaurant. Sadly, my timing wasn’t nice. It was 2008 and the financial system was on the rocks, so I shelved that dream and made the sensible option to grow to be a Registered Nurse. I didn’t know what I used to be going to do with all of my information of plant-based well being and plant-based residing till, sooner or later, I had an thought. I’d write a e-book about easy methods to be wholesome and vegan, however type it like an Military Discipline Handbook. 

Lastly, what does Veterans Day imply to you? Is there something you wish to share along with your fellow veterans?

Veterans Day is our day, in order a veteran, if you would like it to be about getting some free meals, go for it. If you’d like it to be about significant reflection, that’s cool, too. We’re round 6 p.c of the inhabitants, and if you happen to served throughout wartime, that quantity is even smaller. Eat proper, care for your self, and if you happen to need assistance, the VA is all the time there for you. GO VEGAN AND STAY VEGAN STRONG!

For extra details about my work and newest updates, go to my web site and observe me on social media at IG @sgt_vegan, and Fb.